It's a BOY!

**Long overdue entry, more than a year later**

Yes, the title deserved the exclamation mark because throughout this pregnany, 99% of ppl guessed that I was carrying a girl, i almost filled in all pink-purple in the shopping basket.. 

 Anyway just to re-cap on 250513 So the contraction pain woke me up around 1.20am. It was stronger than before and there were bloody show as well..so i knew this time it's for real...Being primid (it's having first birth in laymen term), i know it's gonna take a long while so i tried to sleep it off. Ok, not easy this time as the surge became stronger and after all the wait I was all excited (to get it over and done with)..As husb was too tired driving last night (bringing home the much-awaited Moses basket), he slept at MIL's house about 15 mins away from ours..Tried to call him but no answer so I just msg-ed him... Went to my parents' room but didnt wake mum up. I just lie there trying to sleep bcos i knew the moment i announced that it's the real birth this time, my mum would insist for hospital trip. The surges were still irregular but moderate intensity..still bearable..I knew i need to sleep becos i would need the energy later. 

 I felt my mum's hand on my forehead around 4am..So i told her that i was having pain but let's wait after Subuh. Managed to convince her but i just could not lie down anymore becos the surge became stronger and more frequent..I walked around while reciting surah's and prayers from the book..Both parents were up also and praying solat hajat for me. Husb called back around 5am so i told him the situation and advised him to be here after Subuh..I continued with my routine and paused in between the surges. Around 5.30am, Husb knocked on our door and accompanied me dealing with the surges..also in between his nap, heheh We all got ready after subuh and set off around 7am after having Nasi Berlauk for breakfast. Not my favourite menu but I forced it in for the sake of fueling in the energy.

It was only 3cm dilated so i was admitted into the ward. Mum, younger sis and husb went to the mall so i took chance for a quick nap..Alhamdulillah, i slept for almost 2 hours. Woke up around 2pm and continued dealing with the surges. I did everything i read from the book- squatting , hip swing while clocking my surges. I continued reciting ayat's throughout.. My lunch was Burger King (you know what ppl say about confinement food, right? so yeah, i stuffed myself for the last time)

By 4 o'clock, the surges was stronger and at regular interval of 10 mins. I knew it's time for Labour Room but decided to wait for Asar and my dinner from hosp. Yes, need to conserve anergy for the final push. Dr Su called in to ask about my contraction and to check for dilatation. 

Around 5pm, husb brought me to the LR and how glad i was to stayed in the room for as long as i can since the LR suite was much smaller than anticipated. 

Anyhow, the dilatation was 4cm with strong regular contraction so ARM (artificial ruptured membrane) was performed. Husb and mum kept me company alternately. I couldnt move so much so i lied there reciting surah's and taking in the surges . Alhamdulillah, the pain was bearable so no mention of painkiller. (yes, i tolerated dull aching pain much better than sharp pricking pain so not a big fan of needle and syringe)

After helping me with Jama' Maghrib and Isya, husb went for his Maghrib prayer. Mummy (my SIL's mum) arrived. FYI, she had been my mum's saviour whenever her daughter is in labour  (in reference to my elder sis with 3 children) as my mum herself could not bear looking at us in labour pain. Mummy was so much helpful helping me to calm down and get ready to push. It wasnt easy because i tolerated the pain so much that i didnt have the urge to push. Gah!

So mummy taught me about breathing technique in between contraction. I requested to wait for my husb before starting to push and the CTG machine indicated that my baby was so so ready to be delivered (subtle way to say that he was bradycardic during contraction-meaning his head was already engaged down there).

So the final business started at around 8.20pm . Alhamdulillah, everything settled at around 8.50pm and i received a kiss on the forehead from my husb. 

Let me tell u something, being a doctor did not certify us to be an experienced mother in labour. It took my colleague's words in my mind to teach me how to push, yeah..wasnt easy ok=p

Alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah. My prayer for painless natural birth was answered ..

Disclaimer: this is nothing to do with THE infamous natural birth, it simply means no instrument or operation room was involved during the whole process)